Its up to you or anybody but one can learn to appreciate the solid aspects of the Winning game that the Kings are playing. One can admire the outright commitment of the entire team to a system of play that allows them to be better than the parts. Make no mistake either that the KIngs have excellent parts.

Theres a large core of players here that are exceptionally talented and that could play a less focused game, get away with it, and be the Washington Capitals, but are willing and committed to be that much better.

As fans the reason I think we watch playoffs is seeing excellence. With the Kings we truly are in every capacity and at every position.

Quite simply the LA Kings are playing immutable hockey right now and doing it well within the rules and without the holding, clutching, interference that was so allowed a decade or more ago.

This is just an excellent team playing hockey at its highest level.

I do appreciate the little things the Kings do (e.g. effortless breskouts, excellent puck support, controlling the front of the net, etc.). However, if all there is to appreciate is the little things, that means the primary substance is lacking. As I said, from a coaching and LAK fan standpoint, it's arguably perfectly executed hockey. But as an impartial observer, the product just seems to lack sizzle and excitement.

Like The Perfect Human said, maybe it's only exciting when their opponents are able to play a similar style with similar effectiveness. Who knows, maybe I should be directing my complaints towards the Sharks and their inability to make adjustments. Maybe it's because the Kings don't make the high risk/high reward plays which lead to goals and goals against. Maybe it's because individual skill isn't manifested in an obvious manner. All I know, is I get a little bored watching them play.

I do appreciate the little things the Kings do (e.g. effortless breskouts, excellent puck support, controlling the front of the net, etc.). However, if all there is to appreciate is the little things, that means the primary substance is lacking. As I said, from a coaching and LAK fan standpoint, it's arguably perfectly executed hockey. But as an impartial observer, the product just seems to lack sizzle and excitement.

Like The Perfect Human said, maybe it's only exciting when their opponents are able to play a similar style with similar effectiveness. Who knows, maybe I should be directing my complaints towards the Sharks and their inability to make adjustments. Maybe it's because the Kings don't make the high risk/high reward plays which lead to goals and goals against. Maybe it's because individual skill isn't manifested in an obvious manner. All I know, is I get a little bored watching them play.

It's no different than respected defensive fighters in boxing or MMA. Might be boring as hell, but if you truly see what they are doing it's a piece of magic.

I do appreciate the little things the Kings do (e.g. effortless breskouts, excellent puck support, controlling the front of the net, etc.). However, if all there is to appreciate is the little things, that means the primary substance is lacking. As I said, from a coaching and LAK fan standpoint, it's arguably perfectly executed hockey. But as an impartial observer, the product just seems to lack sizzle and excitement.

Like The Perfect Human said, maybe it's only exciting when their opponents are able to play a similar style with similar effectiveness. Who knows, maybe I should be directing my complaints towards the Sharks and their inability to make adjustments. Maybe it's because the Kings don't make the high risk/high reward plays which lead to goals and goals against. Maybe it's because individual skill isn't manifested in an obvious manner. All I know, is I get a little bored watching them play.

Thanks for the response. I get more of where you are coming from. We'll see what level of hockey SJ is willing to go to. Of course the age old question of Thornton, Marleau, etc, is how much commitment are they prepared to make. Even with that said in fairness this Sharks team doesn't match up with the Kings.

Sharks will need a legendary effort here to beat the Kings. If they did somehow manage to do that they would go onto win the cup imo.

But my take is the Kings win this series.

Kings may have their stumble against the Hawks. If Kings go to the SC they're winning again.

Completely ridiculous that Torres is going to get suspended for that hit. The only way to explain it is that Shanny has a special set of rules for guys who still remember that hockey includes punishing the opponent. For a guy who played a reasonably tough game I can't express how disappointed I am in the way Shanahan has conducted himself as the league disciplinarian.

Hey, remember when Torres took out Michalek in 2006 and it sort of turned the tide and the Oilers came back in that series and beat the Sharks? Maybe everything's coming full circle and now that Torres took out Stoll this time San Jose comes back and wins their series with L.A. and makes a run to the finals. Torres, a former Oiler, concussing Stoll, another former Oiler, on a team with three other former Oilers, one of which was also on the 2006 cup run (Greene).

This season there were basically 2 leagues. With no western teams playing against eastern teams, the writers basically didn't watch much of the west. This explains the extremism this season. Pretty lame.

I guess it's not a major concern for the Oilers, but it would seem to be a bit of a waste to sign a guy who continues to find ways of not playing in the playoffs one way or another.

You mean by having the name "Torres" spelled out on the back of his jersey?

It was a joke call which is the consensus around the league unless you're a kings fan.

Shouldn't even have been a charging penalty, Stoll had the puck, how is a person supposed to know Stoll would throw the puck up ice with his hand instead of play it with his stick? The charging on this was a joke to begin with. Which set in motion the latest version of Raffigate.

Curious about the suspension as well. Its not fixed # of games but "rest of series" What kind of **** is that?

No Havlat and Torres will start to affect the Sharks. Nice shot but Niemi needs to save that.

Tonight is a good example that even the best goalies in the world give up bad goals. Lundqvist gave up a brutal goal off Chara and Rask let in a weak one tonight as well.

BTW... what the hell happened to Brad Richards? He's playing 4th line minutes right now on the Rangers. I wonder if he gets bought out... if he does, I can see whatever team that picks him up getting a very good player for the next couple of seasons.

Watching the Kings is like watching the Devils of the mid to late 90's all over again. Very frustrating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spawn

Tonight is a good example that even the best goalies in the world give up bad goals. Lundqvist gave up a brutal goal off Chara and Rask let in a weak one tonight as well.

BTW... what the hell happened to Brad Richards? He's playing 4th line minutes right now on the Rangers. I wonder if he gets bought out... if he does, I can see whatever team that picks him up getting a very good player for the next couple of seasons.

I'll bet that the Flames try to scoop him up. They were desperate to sign him before but he turned them down.